As it respects the _origin_ of the name of Parsons, some have
supposed that it was derived from the word _parson_, a clerical
title, given from the fact that a clergyman is the principal person
in the church. Hence in law he is termed _ecclesiæ persona_, and has
full possession of all the rights of a parochial church. The _s_ is
added for euphony's sake, or from the fact that the individual was
the parson's son.
Others have derived it from the word _parish_, as parish-son, meaning
the son of some parish, one supported or educated by the parish.
And others again have supposed that the name is the same with
_Person_, _Peerson_, _Pierson_, and _Pearson_, modified in the
spelling.
_Peirson_ or _Peerson_ is derived, according to Camden, from _son of
Peter_ or _Peterson_, the former coming originally from the French
word, _Pierre_.
It does not appear that there has ever been any attempt to collect
even the materials for a history of the English family of Parsons,
so far as has come to our knowledge, notwithstanding there have
been many individuals among them of great distinction; as knights,
baronets, and noblemen. Those of the name are, and have been
for a long period, found in several counties; as Devonshire,
Buckinghamshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, &c.
Prior to 1672, Andrew Parsons, gent., was of Somersetshire, and
Philip Parsons, gent., of Worcestershire. But the earliest record we
have noticed is in
1290. WALTER was then a resident of Mulso in Ireland. How long
before this he or his ancestors went there we know not. The name
is still extant there, and something above one hundred years ago,
Bishop Gibson remarked, (in his edition of Camden's Britannia,) "The
honorable family of Parsons have been advanced to the dignity of
Viscounts, and more lately, Earls of Ross."
1481. SIR JOHN was Mayor of Hereford, who had for his armorial
bearings, _Gules, a leopard's head between three crosses patee,
fitched in the foot ar._--Crest, _a halberd headed az. embued gules_.
1546. ROBERT, afterwards the noted Jesuit, was born this year, and
died April 18, 1610, a. 64. He appears to have been the first of note
of his family. His father lived near Bridgewater, Eng., at a place
called Netherstoway. Robert was educated at Balliol College, Oxford,
and was early distinguished for his abilities, but being accused of
some irregularities he forsook his country and resided for a time
at Antwerp, Louvain, Padua, Rome, Paris and Valladolid. Becoming a
convert to the Romish faith, he propagated that doctrine with all his
ability, and was no small instrument in stirring up the benighted
vassals of Philip II. to attempt the conquest of his native country.
The event of that attempt will always be viewed with an intensity of
interest.
How much Father Parsons had to do in circulating the Pope's bulls and
inflammatory tracts in England at the period of the Armada can never
be known, but from his knowledge of the country, the people, and
their language, it is not unlikely that his agency was by no means
inconsiderable. Fuller, in speaking of the fierceness of the battle
between the fleets observes, that "bullets did not fly about so much
at sea, as bastardly libels did by land; so fitly called, because
none durst father them."
He established an English college at Rome and another at Valladolid,
for such of his countrymen as might follow him, or come otherwise
into exile. He published several works, but that by which he is
best known is entitled "Leicester's Commonwealth," which, though
abounding with misstatements, vague rumors, and base insinuations,
was nevertheless a work of great ability. And although the pen of Sir
Philip Sidney was exercised in its refutation, he is not considered
to have completely effected his object. This most singular book of
Father Robert was first printed in 1641, and in less than 70 years
had become so rare that an edition of it was published, purporting to
have been printed from a _newly discovered manuscript_, and passed
current as such without detection, it is believed. To the original
edition is appended a poem, entitled "Leycester's Ghost," a great
literary curiosity. An extract from the poem is as follows:
Let no man think I exercis'd the Ghost
Of this great Peere that sleepeth in the dust,--
Or conjur'd up his spirit to his cost
To presse with dispraise or praise unjust,
I am not partiall but give him his due,
And to his soule I wish eternall health,
Ne do I thinke all written tales are true,
That are inserted in his Common-wealth;
What others wrot before I do survive,
But am not like to them incenst with hate,
And as I plainely write, so do I strive
To write the truth, not wronging his estate.
Of whom it may bee said and censur'd well,
Hee both in vice and vertue did excell.
1556. FRANCIS was vicar of Rothwell in Nottinghamshire. There is a
wood called Parsons' wood, in the hundred of Nassaburgh, in the same
county.
1618. BARTHOLOMEW appears as the author of three sermons--"First
Fruits of the Gentiles," 4to. In 1616, "Assize Sermon," 4to. 1631,
"Dorcas, or a Perfect Patterne of a True Disciple," Sermon, 4to.
Oxford.
[Illustration]
1634. About this year Thomas Parsons was knighted by Charles I. The
foregoing engraving represents his arms, still retained in the family
in the United States, and by his descendants in London, among whom
were Sir John and Sir Humphrey; the former, Lord Mayor of that city
in 1704, the latter, in 1731 and 1740. The same coat of arms is also
retained by the branch of the Parsons family now long resident in
Barbadoes.
Langley in Buckinghamshire was long a seat of a family of the name,
but they seem to have abandoned it about the end of the 17th century
for a residence in Nottinghamshire. The first of this family whose
descendants we can trace appears to have been